Resilient wheel.



rangedto assume part of a predetermined load, and other springs arranged 'to'assume" the reniainder'ot the predetermined load,

said sectional tread cooperating with the rim of the wheel in such a manner that when the load exceeds the predetermined amount said rim will assume the excess load and the resilient sectional tread will be protected agains't'further strain or distortion.

The rods do are ireferabl T rovided in-' termediate their length with shoulders 56,

which are in engagement with yokes 58 embracing said rods. lhese yokes are provided withlaterally projecting apertured ears 60, towhich one end of the tension member 62 are connected. These tension ,members are in theforin of coiled springs formed with hooks at each end for ready engagement with a cooperating element. The outer ends of said springsare preferably,

connected to eye-bolts 6a secured in the rim 30. As illustrated in the present embodimentof the invention there are two double rows of eyebolts 6%, and the tension members are :connected to diagonallyfllocated eye-bolts in each double row.

Embracing the inner ends of the rods 46 are heavy compression springs 66, wh ch 'may be surrounded for @1301131011 of their length by splitsleeves or cups 68 driven into and bearing against the shelf 22. These sleeves yieldingly embrace the springs 66 and prevent them from slipping along the rods 4 -6, thus preventing rattling of said,

springs.

From the construction above set forth it will be noted that the wheel comprises a sectional resilient tread, the sections of which are independent and held out from the rigid rim of the wheel by springs, preferably tension springs constructed to carry a part of any proper load for vwhich the car is designed. As the wheel rolls along successive plungers come into action, so that a traction surface of considerable extent 1S. always available, which readily adapts itself automatically to the surface over which the wheel is traveling. When the load carried by the wheel is greater than that intendedfor the first springs, the plungers or treadsections are pushed inwardly until the yokes 58 engage the springs 66, which in thepresent instance are compression springs, whereupon the'latter take up the load in addition lJO'thG tension members. If the overload is sufiiciently great to overcome the combined resistance of the tension and compression springs, it becomes what may be termed an excess load, and then the sectional tread will be pushed in until its surface corresponds to that of the rigid rim, whereupon the latter assumes the excess load and thus distortion of the springs is avoided. As shown bythe drawings, said rim is of substantial wear and pressure-resisting construction, its outer surface being uniformly resistant to wear and pressure at all parts of its exposed surface, that is to say, at its edge portions which are outside the zone spending tension springs, then remove the compression springs, whereupon the rigid rim 30 will bear on the floor, and'any danger ofcausing a set in the springs will be avoided.

Although we have shown the resilient members as provided with tension springsnear their outer ends and compression springs at the rinner ends, it should be understood that we are not limited to this arrangement, but the relative arrangement of the resilient mechanism may be varied as U required.

is l. A wheel having a resilient portion including independently operable tread sections,'a hub, spaced apart side members rig-' idly connected with the hub, and a rigid rim made as a single piece radially perforated to guide said sections, providing a iiaving explained the nature of our invention and described one form of device in which t may be embodied, what we claim wear-andpressure-resisting annular rigid tread surface extending entirely across and around the face of the wheel, rigidly connected w th said s de members and by the latter with the hub for protecting the resilient portion from any undesired burden or overload in excessof a predetermined amount of pressurethereoii, and uniformly resistant to wear and pressure at all parts of its tread surface, said resilient portion receding within said protecting rim.

2. A resilient wheel, comprising a rigid rim forming a tread surface extending entirely across the face of the wheel and provided with apertures, aconcentric annular web within said rim spaced therefrom and provided with apertures in line with the apertures in said rim, a hub, means for rigidly connecting said rim and'web to said hub, plungers guided in said apertures and constituting independent tread sections, re-

silient means for assuming a predetermined load on said plungers, said rim being arranged to assume any load in excess of said.

. predetermined load and to protect said tread sections therefrom, said tread sections receding within said rim.

meagre 3. A resilient wheel, comprisinga rigid rim forming a tread surface extending en-' said tread sections receding Within said rim,

4. A wheel, comprising a rigid rim, a plurality of independent resilient members having provision for assuming a portion of a predetermined load, and resilient means for assuming an additional portion of said predetermined load, said rim being adapted to assume the load in excess of said predetermined load and to protect said resilient members when the load exceeds the sustaining power of said resilient members, said resilient members receding within said rim.

A wheel, comprising a rim which is" concentric with the axis of the wheel under all conditions of load, a sectional tread composed of independent sections, a set of springs associated with said sections for as suming part of a predetermined load, and other. springs arranged to assume the remainder of said predetermined load, said sections being arranged to enter said rim to enable the latter to assume the excess load and prevent further strain upon them when said load exceeds said predetermined load.

6. A wheel, comprising a rim which is concentric with the axis of: the wheel under all conditions of load, a sectional tread composed of independently movable sections, a plurality of sets oi springs cocperating with said sections for assuming a predeten, mined load, said rim being'arranged to assume the load when said predetermined load is exceeded, said sections receding within said rim and being protected thereby.

7. A resilient wheel, comprising sectional tread the sections of which are carried by independent ,reciprocatory members, tension members connected to said reciprocatory members for assuming a portion of a' predetermined load, compression members associated with said reciprocatory members arranged to assume the remainder of said predetermined load, and means for assuming any excess load above said predetermined load.

8. A wheel comprising a rigid inner annular member, an outer rim concentric with said inner annular member, a series of independently operable plungers constituting tread sections having their inner and outer ends guided in said inner member and outer rim respectively, springs connected to said plungers for assuming part of apredeterminedload, and other springs for-assuming i the remainder of said predetermined load, said rim being arranged to assume any load in excess of the predetermined load and to protect said plungers and springs fromsaid excess load.

9. 3i resilient wheel, comprising rigid rim, a sectional tread composed of plungers arranged to reciprocate thr u h said rim, springs attachedv to the inside of said rim and to said plungers for assuming part of a predetermined load, and other springsembracing said plunger-s and arranged to assume the remainder of the predetermined load.

10. ii resilient wheel, comprising a rim having a series 01"- apertures, a series 01"" wearing sections, holders in which said sections are mounted, said holders being guided by said apertures rods to which said holders areattaohed, springs connected to said rods and to said rim tor assuming a portion of a predetermined load, and other springs surrounding said rods and arranged to coperate with said first'i'nentioned springs to assume an additional load.

11. A resilient Wheel, comprising a rim provided with a series of holes, a series of wearing sections, holders in which said sections are mounted slidably fitting said holes, independent radially movable rods to which said holders attached, springs tending to keep said wearing sections projecting outside of said rim when subjected to a, load within predetermined limits, and other springs arranged to assume the remainder of the load, said holders and wearing sections receding within said rim when the wheel is subjected to an overload.

12. A resilient wheel, comprising a rim having a plurality of holes extending therethrough, a sectional tread composed of a series of blocks held in holders, said holders being arranged to slidably fit the holes in the rim, rods aiiixed to said holders, yokes on said rods, eye-bolts projecting inwardly from said rim, springs connected to said yokes and to said eye-bolts, a cylindrical shelf provided with holes through which the inner ends oi said rods pass, and other springs embracing the inner ends of said rods and engaging the outer periphery of said shelf.

13. A resilient wheel, comprising a hub, metal sides attached to said hub, one of said sides being formed with an annular shelf and a rim for the wheel, a series of holders arranged to slidably fit said rim, blocks in said holders, shouldered rods to the outer ends of which said holders are secured, yolres on said rods provided with ears, eye-bolts projecting inwardly from said rim, springs connected to said yokes and eyebolts, and other springs said rim and hub and extending between said embracing the inner ends of said rods and engaging said shelf.

14. A resilient wheel, comprising a hub,

sides rigidly attached, to said hub, a solid rinrextending between said sides and pro-' vided with apertures, a shelf intermediate silient members is exceeded the excess load is borne by said rim.

15. A wheel having resilient portions operating independently thereof, each guided at a plurality of points and having means for,

assuming a predetermined load on said portlons, a hub, spaced apart side members rigidly connected wlth the hub, and a radi- Copies of this patent may be'obtained for ally perforated rim formed in a single-piece having a wear and pressure-resisting tread surface extending entirely across and around the faceof the wheel, r1gidly connected with said hub and uniformly resistant to wear and 30 pressure at all parts of its tread surface, and a concentric annular web within said rim spaced therefrom and rigidly connected thereto, said web and rim constituting the outer and inner walls and the side members 35 constituting the side wallsof an annular chamber in wlnch the resllient elements of the wheel are housed, said hub and rim being adapted to assume any load in excess ofsaid Jredetermined load to arotect'said resilient 40 1.

portions when the latter recede within said tread surface under the action ofthe excess load. I a

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures,in presence of two witnesses.

' CHARLES F. WEBBER. EDMUND PERLEY HEMENWAY. t Witnesseszf 7 WILLIAM J. iSPERL, Gnosvnnon CALKINs.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

